School execs sued for P1.3-M fund scam.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

BAGUIO CITY-Parents of 2,300 students enrolled at the Benguet National High School (BNHS) have sued their principal and two teachers for allegedly defrauding their organization of P1.3 million in illegally collected parents-teachers association funds.

The amount should not have even been collected, according to Francis Gonzalo, president of the Parents, Teachers and Community Organization Inc. (PTCO). He traced some of the money to this year's school expenditures, raising issues about the school's financial health.

Remedios Taguba, Cordillera director of the Department of Education (DepEd), investigated Cerila Taynan, BNHS principal, and Andy Villamor and Elsie Paulan, both teachers, after noting the complaints that they refused to divulge how the money was solicited in October.

But the three officials denied the charges.

Denials

Taynan said she never authorized the collection. Paulan, who acted as PTCO bookkeeper, said in her affidavit that her obligations to PTCO did not involve disbursing or collecting funds from the students.